Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Vodka With a Twist broke alertly and led every step of the way for a convincing three-length win over So There She Was in Sunday’s 123rd running of the $218,750 Debutante (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies on closing day a Churchill Downs.
Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat ran six furlongs over a muddy track in 1:10.58 for owners Philip Shelton’s Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and William Strauss.
Breaking from post 6 in the field of seven fillies, Vodka With a Twist opened a quick 1 ½-length advantage over her rivals as she zipped the first quarter mile in :21.51 and the half in :45.47. Southern California invader So There She Was chased throughout and was second best.
“We broke really fast out of the gate and she showed a lot of natural speed today,” Prat said. “Going this far for the first time she handled it really well and she was able to take her speed all the way to the wire.”
The victory was worth $136,520 which increased Vodka With a Twist’s earnings to $209,320 with record of 2-0-0 in three starts. Prior to her Debutante triumph, Vodka With a Twist broke her maiden at Churchill Downs on May 17 by one length.
Vodka With a Twist paid $4.62, $2.92 and $2.42 as the 6-5 favorite. So There She Was, under Antonio Fresu at odds of 2-1, returned $3.50 and $2.72. Fortuna Mia, at 18-1 with Luis Saez up, was another five lengths back in third and paid $4.56 to show.
It was another two lengths back to Glee in fourth, who was followed by Adeera, Daisy Duke and La Marinera.
Vodka With a Twist is a daughter of Thousand Words out of the Sky Mesa mare Bourbon and a Kiss. She was bred in Kentucky by Pillar Property Services Inc., and purchased as a yearling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October Sale for $2,500.
The Debutante was first staged in 1895 and is one of Churchill Downs’ most storied races.
